Swiss Defence Ministry Boosts Funding for New Crisis Management System After Crans-Montana Fire

In response to the recent Crans-Montana blaze, the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport decided to double the investment in the Information and Deployment System, a digital platform intended to give emergency commanders real-time medical and logistical data. The extra work, valued at several million francs, was assigned without a competitive bidding process to the firm already handling the initial stage, because authorities argued that changing suppliers would create technical and operational risks and increase expenses.

The ministry explained that the fire exposed unforeseen needs for cross-border patient coordination and nationwide hospital capacity monitoring, prompting the budget revision. Critics, including the head of the Swiss Centre for Rescue, Emergency and Disaster Medicine, argue that the lack of a public tender and the absence of a clear performance review undermine accountability. They urge the government to publish a detailed interim assessment before further funds are spent.